PRESEASON ROSTER: 28 players vie for Sky Blue positions

Sky Blue FC Monday announced its 28-player preseason opening day roster prior to the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League season

The roster includes four players selected by Sky Blue in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and five non-roster invitees. Rookies Julie James and Paige Monaghan also were chosen in the draft, but have since signed contracts to play.

The team will be without three players at the start of preseason due to international duty. Midfielder Carli Lloyd, who has been competing with the U.S. women’s national team in the SheBelieves Cup, will return to New Jersey following the final match of the tournament against Brazil Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan is competing in the 2019 Algarve Cup with the Canada national team. She will return to Sky Blue following the final placement match on Wednesday. Goalkeeper Didi Haracic will miss the first few days of preseason as she returns from competing in Europe with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sky Blue will play its first preseason match on Saturday, March 16 against St. John’s University at Sportika Sports, in Manalapan, N.J. Saturday, March 16 at 3 p.m. ET.

The club’s season opener will be against the Washington Spirit at Maryland SoccerPlex April 13 and the home opener will take place Saturday, April 20 against the Houston Dash.

About The Author

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered eight World Cups, seven Olympics and all 21 MLS Cups. He writes about New York City FC, New York Cosmos and the U.S. national team for Newsday and pens a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has two more in the works, including one about the Rochester Lancers.